Q 01/05

Which Hollywood star rejected a role in Grand Prix and later made his own racing film, Le Mans?

A) Paul Newman

B) Steve McQueen

C) Robert Redford

D) Clint Eastwood

Answer · why

B) Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen had planned a competing picture called Day of the Champion, but its troubles pushed his racing film back to 1971.

Q 02/05

What did the Grand Prix film crew build to hurl real cars through the air for its crash scenes?

A) A steam catapult

B) A rocket sled

C) A hydrogen cannon

D) A spring-loaded ramp

Answer · why

C) A hydrogen cannon

A hydrogen cannon worked like a pea shooter, director John Frankenheimer said. It flung real cars at up to 135 miles an hour, and no models were used.

Q 03/05

Which Italian team first resisted Grand Prix, then let its director shoot inside the factory?

A) Maserati

B) Alfa Romeo

C) Lancia

D) Ferrari

Answer · why

D) Ferrari

Ferrari feared the film would sensationalize its work, until John Frankenheimer sent its management about thirty minutes of early footage.

Q 04/05

Which star of Akira Kurosawa's samurai films made his Hollywood debut as a team owner in Grand Prix?

A) Toshiro Mifune

B) Takashi Shimura

C) Tatsuya Nakadai

D) Ken Takakura

Answer · why

A) Toshiro Mifune

Toshiro Mifune made 16 films with Kurosawa, among them Rashomon and Seven Samurai, before he turned to roles abroad.

Q 05/05

Most racing cars in the 1966 film Grand Prix were mock-ups built from cars of which junior class?

A) Formula Two

B) Formula Three

C) Formula Ford

D) Formula Vee

Answer · why

B) Formula Three

Formula Three cars were dressed up to pass for the real thing. James Garner's had a taller roll bar and no seat, because he was too tall to fit.